MEET THE MENTORS: MATTHEW CHOWEN

We chatted with him to find out why he decided to get involved with Lightning Lab.

Hey Matthew, could you tell us a bit about your background?

I am a Director at Deloitte Private with a focus on helping high growth technology businesses fulfil their potential. I get a kick out of seeing my clients grow and win on the global stage!

What made you want to be involved in Lightning Lab?

Firstly, it is fun!
Secondly, I hope the cohort benefit from my experiences gained during my day job.
Thirdly, I see being a mentor as my opportunity to give back to the local community.

What do you feel you get back from mentoring?

Again, it is fun!
I love the energy and enthusiasm of the Lightning Lab cohorts. I get to meet some really smart and driven people and I learn from those people. I then take those learnings and experiences back to my daily client interactions.

Top 3 things you look for in a team/venture before you commit to mentoring?

A credible, passionate and motivated team that I believe can win

A focused product or service that answers an unmet need in the market and is well timed

A cool and interesting story

What do you think the market needs to progress?

I think the market needs to continue to look outside New Zealand for inspiration and ideas, particularly the US and China. Retaining and attracting the best people is a continual challenge – and something where government policy plays an important role. Same for funding, where government support for R&D is receiving a renewed focus. And finally, the continued investment of time from successful entrepreneurs back into the eco-system.

Interested in being kept up to date with future Lightning Lab programmes, make sure you’re on our mailing list.